Suspicious Package Found at S.F. Federal Building

San Francisco police had blocked off several streets surrounding
the San Francisco Federal Building as a bomb squad inside tried to determine
the best way to deal with a suspicious package that was delivered to its
mailroom this morning.

Police Sgt. Steve Roche said the package was addressed to judges,
FBI officials and other federal officers in eight jurisdictions. When the
package was X-rayed, it appeared as though it contained "bottles, wires and
clips,'' he said.

"Because of the suspicious nature, the bomb squad is in there
taking care of business,'' Roche said, adding that the 500 blocks of Polk and
Larkin streets have been closed to auto and foot traffic.

If a bomb were detonated in the area, "it would blast'' both sides
of the street where the Federal Building's driveway is located, he said.

Roche said that while the building had not been evacuated, people
were not being allowed to enter the building.

Golden Gate Avenue and Turk Street have also been closed to
automobile traffic. The Federal Building is located at 450 Golden Gate Ave.
As a result of the closures, traffic on McAllister Street is snarled.

Karen Kerr, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Fire Department,
says a call about the package first came in at 9:25 a.m. from security forces
posted at the building.

Today's incident follows an explosion Wednesday inside a bathroom
at San Francisco's Hall of Justice. Police spokesman Sherman Ackerson said
the loud bang around 12:30 p.m. yesterday could have been caused by a large
firecracker and that nothing such as a timer or wires was found inside the
first floor men's room.